2023, May 27th: "Stallions find that winning song, rock past Breakers to division lead"

Fox Sports' RJ Young provides the summary below of the Stallions win over the Breakers. 

Did I miss something? Did this game have a classic rock theme to it at the time? I have no idea why Young is referencing 70s songs all over the place, but I love seeing someone enjoy his work! 

Photography credit provided where available.

I've probably said it in an earlier post involving these two teams, but man, I loved to hate the Breakers for a variety of reason. Hopefully they are brought back some day.  

The Birmingham Stallions got it on, banged a gong, and sang that winning song after their 24-20 victory against the New Orleans Breakers on Saturday.

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(Alex McGough) has proven to be the most valuable player in the Birmingham locker room since taking over the job due to a season-ending injury to J'Mar Smith. But he needed — needs — help. For the second week in a row, he received that from the run game and the defense.

McGough completed 16 of 23 passes and accounted for 198 total yards with two TDs against John DeFilippo's Breakers.

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Defensively, Birmingham linebacker Quentin Poling, a native of Gomer, Ohio, rocked out with 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery in the win.

"We've been doing a great job as a unit," Poling said. "We just have to keep growing."

Despite out-gaining the Stallions 186-96 in the first half, not to mention converting seven of 10 third downs and getting off 40 offensive plays, the Breakers walked into halftime down 10-6 due to two costly turnovers. 

With outstanding field position after a Wes Hills fumble and a mistake by the New Orleans punt team, Birmingham needed just 21 plays to put double-digits on the field and build quite a bit of momentum. 

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QB Alex McGough

Coming out for the third quarter, it was like Holtz looked down at the stat sheet, saw running back CJ Marable had just four carries, and decided to let the Chanticleer crow. Marable accounted for just 46 total yards against the Breakers a month ago, but he matched that on the ensuing drive alone.

Former North Carolina State running back Ricky Person finished what Marable started on that drive, punching it in to give the Stallions a 17-6 lead in the third. 

(Photo by Stew Milne/USFL/Getty Images USFL)

Marable ended the game with 23 touches for 138 total yards from scrimmage, his second straight game with 100-plus yards.

After a stop by the Birmingham defense on New Orleans' next possession, the Stallions looked to be putting a Ted Nugent stranglehold on the game. That's until Breakers defensive back Michael Stevens ripped the ball free of wideout Adrian Hardy to take over possession on the Birmingham 19 yard-line.

The turnover amounted to three points and put New Orleans back on the Stallions' scent, and here the Breakers come again now, baby. Or so Breakers fans thought, because on the next drive McGough and the offense made like they heard one guitar just blow them away, saw stars in their eyes and decided to become something like jukebox heroes.

McGough started rocking, up eight in the third, scrambling, dipping, ducking and diving to find La'Michael Pettway, and then Myron Mitchell, and then Jace Sternberger — twice — to extend the Stallions' lead to 24–9 with less than a minute left to play in the third.

(Photo by Stew Milne/USFL/Getty Images USFL)

(Bethel-Thompson) found wideout Lee Morris for six and then converted the two-point try with a pass to Surratt to make it a one-score game with 12:10 left to play, giving New Orleans fans permission to dream on.

After a defensive stop, the Breakers took possession of the southern rock on their own 35-yard line looking like making a bigger mess than George Thorogood & the Destroyers at a bachelorette party. The Stallions came up with a stop to force a 55-yard field goal but to close the game to 24-20 with 5:40 left to play.

DB Jojo Tillery, photo credit unavailable)

Four inches, fourth down, up four, 1:26 left to play, the Stallions let their defense finish the game. It was a fitting end for a team that had given up 45 points to New Orleans in Week 4.

2023, April 22nd: Memphis Showboats 02 @ Birmingham Stallions 42

The summary below combines two articles from Fox Sports. 

The first is by Greg Auman for Fox Sports. It was more of a general overview that included several quotes, which I've not copied. The full article can be found at this link. 

The second is a list of the major plays in the game, also by Fox Sports. There was no credit provided. 

The photography is from social media, though a couple were credited to Andy Lyons in an al.com article. Browsing the Getty Images folder for this game, I believe they should all be credited to him. Unfortunately, I was not able to locate a website or social media account for Mr. Lyons to link to, but if I do, I shall add it here. 

Birmingham...entered the game with uncertainty, having lost a starting quarterback, running back, and receiver to serious injuries in last week's game, leaving them shorthanded. Quarterback Alex McGough led the way Saturday, throwing for four touchdowns and 302 yards without a turnover, while Zaquandre White rushed for 75 yards and two scores.

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The 42 points is the second-most scored in a USFL game since the league returned last year — the Philadelphia Stars had 46 in a win last season — and the margin of victory is the largest. In 40 games last season, the most lopsided game was by 31 points, and the losing end of that was the Tampa Bay Bandits, who moved to Memphis and became the Showboats.

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McGough's first pass was a 47-yard throw to tight end Jace Sternberger (below), and the two would connect five times for 126 yards and a touchdown. That score put Birmingham up 21-0 just before halftime. The Stallions did not let up, and McGough credited his teammates for making it easy for him.

McGough's only real blemish on the night came late in the third quarter, when he was sacked in the end zone by Memphis, resulting in a safety and spoiling what could have been just the second USFL shutout in as many seasons. Birmingham outgained Memphis by a 463-183 margin and had a 27-10 edge on first downs, holding the Showboats to one conversion in 11 third-down attempts.

Above by Greg Auman

 

Deon Cain

Memphis went three-and-out to begin the game. Then Birmingham was on the verge of punting the ensuing possession before quarterback Alex McGough hooked up with tight end Jace Sternberger going to his left for a 49-yard completion.

Two plays later, McGough threw a dart, 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Davion Davis, giving the Stallions the early lead.

After another Memphis three-and-out, Birmingham picked up right where it left off. 

A 20-yard completion to Myron Mitchell and a 23-yard completion to Sternberger put the Stallions in field goal range. Then one play after an 11-yard completion to Deon Cain, Zaquandre White ran in Birmingham's second score. The Stallions led 14-0 after the first quarter.

ZaQuandre White

Memphis converted a fourth-and-one from its own 41-yard line, as quarterback Brady White hit wide receiver Ryan McDaniel for the five-yard pickup and the first down.

However, the Showboats couldn't come up with points, as Alex Kessman missed a 48-yard field goal.

Two plays after McGough hit Sternberger for a 28-yard completion, the two hooked up for a score. 

Going to his left, McGough found Sternberger for a 25-yard touchdown. The touchdown reception was one of four catches for Sternberger in the first half, which totaled 123 yards.

Memphis got into field goal range before halftime, but White was intercepted by safety T.J. Carter in the end zone.

Birmingham led 21-0 at halftime.

Austin Watkins

Birmingham was set to punt it away on the opening possession of the second half, but Memphis was called for too many men on the field, giving the Stallions a new set of downs. One play later, White ran through the Showboats defense, evading a couple of tackles for a 35-yard touchdown.

Memphis got the ball past midfield after putting Ryan Willis in at quarterback, but Rashad Smith then strip-sacked Willis and Birmingham came up with the loose ball.

Six plays later, McGough hit tight end Thaddeus Moss for a 7-yard touchdown. The Stallions led 35-0.

Myron Mitchell

The Showboats got on the board near the end of the third quarter when Jeremiah Valoaga sacked McGough in the end zone for a safety.

Memphis turned the ball over on downs at the Birmingham 5-yard line after the safety. The Stallions then ate up 8:43 on a 15-play drive that ended with a touchdown. McGough capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell.

Donnie Lewis II